ARIES

Earlier in the week WW was contacted by Steve Burrett in regard to his father’s old boat – Aries. Aries was designed and built by Owen Woolley c1958. 

Steve was having a review (tidy up) of some of the families old photos and came across the above.  Steve commented that the first two were taken by the editor of Seaspray magazine who did an article. The photos were taken in Islington Bay. The third photo was taken going up the harbour on an Auckland Anniversary day very soon after the boat was launched so probably about 1958 as there was no boot top. Also there were no bow rails which were laminated up sometime latter. Also note the family were dressed in Whites which was the custom of the day.

Its a special photo for the family as Steve’s grandparents were also on board.To quote Steve “I’m the little tacker to the right of the mast.” 🙂

As well as wanting to share these photos with us, Steve is also keen to make contact with the present owner, as they may like copies of the photos. contact waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Steve also commented that he believes the original profile looks a lot more attractive without the ‘oxygen tent’ that was fitted many years latter. I think we would all agree on that . Link below to past WW story. https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/11/30/launch-with-no-name/

22-10-2023 UPDATED HISTORY ON ARIES EX STEVE BARRETT

“Aries was built in 1957 for my parents Bill and Joan Burrett who at that time were living in Old Bridge Rd a short distance from Owen Woolley’s yard.

Dad was quizzed as to why he would use a relatively unknown boatbuilder to design and build a then anticipated 40’ launch.

Owens first boats were a 26’ Sedan for Ross Reid of Ross Reid Earthmovers and a 32’ Sedan for Don MacMillan the then Manager of Bitumix of Lunn Ave.

Dad had great faith in Owen and Aries was the first of five Launches either designed or built for the Burrett Family. ( Bill Burrett- Aries, Proteus then Nereus. Steve-son. Firstly ‘Hine-awa’ then “V”(Five).

Aries was designed as a 40’ but when the Kauri log was felled it had a useable 45’ of timber so the plans were stretch to 42’. She had a diagonal and full-length carvel planking.

The initial engines were war surplus 6cyl Chrysler Crowns. These came from England in the original packing cases (together with a host of Simpson Lawrence gear. Anchor, winch, chain, toilet and other sundry essential equipment). 110hp with 2/1 mechanical boxes. The engines were a marine salt water cooled unit complete with instrumentation. They had a downfall in that the salt water pump was a gear pump and often would not lift the water. The exhaust note dry was significant!

 Carrying petrol was not desirable so diesel engines were investigated. Fords were considered but the then HP rating was under 100 hp. TS3 Commer diesels were chosen due to power to weight, height for under the floor. and their smoothness. Two Truck engines were purchased. I remember one straight out of the truck being started whilst sitting in a truck tire. Very smooth with instant start. These engines were stripped and rebuilt by Ernie Williams uprating the hp from 85 to 117hp. @2300rpmBorgWarner boxes were fitted, a Lees Heat Exchanger and the cast truck manifold wrapped with a copper jacket. The performance bettered the Chryslers but exhaust noise was significant. Elastomufflers were tried but the insides tended to expand too much with the TS3’s supercharger putting through too much volume..

Eventually a galv steel muffler was built which sorted the problem.  I still have the design. Aries was sold to Ed Carter who later on sold. Pete Walsh bought her and she was taken to his Transport company’s yard and he replaced the Engines with brand new TS3’s rated at 135HP. @2300rpm.The mahogany coamings were stripped back and revarnished. He did a great job.

In the meantime, Dad had Owen build the 36’ Proteus again with 2xTS3’s. He later had a follow up with the 34’ Nereus with a single TS3. It was about this time that the Rootes group had developed a 4cyl TS4 which was to produce 175hp however we could not obtain one as Chrysler bought out the manufacturer and canned production, wanting to replace the Commer with a Chrysler 6cyl diesel 225hp.

We lost track of Aries for a while until Mike Wiles bought her. We then learnt that the TS3’s had been replaced with heavier Fords and the oxygen tent had been added.

She has a great hull easily driven and with the TS3’s would cruise comfortably at a good 10k and would achieve 13k easily.

I often wonder how these hulls would perform with today’s light weight high horsepower engines.  The modern 225 hp ,4cyl engines would be superb in a hull like this.